A year of turmoil, stumbles for NJ capital's mayor

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack answers a question in Trenton, N.J., Thursday, July 7, 2011, after he announced plans for a Trenton African American Pride festival. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
— AP

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack answers a question in Trenton, N.J., Thursday, July 7, 2011, after he announced plans for a Trenton African American Pride festival. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
/ AP

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack listens to a question in Trenton, N.J., Thursday, July 7, 2011. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)— AP

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack listens to a question in Trenton, N.J., Thursday, July 7, 2011. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
/ AP

People walk in an afternoon rain, past Trenton City Hall Friday, July 8, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)— AP

People walk in an afternoon rain, past Trenton City Hall Friday, July 8, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
/ AP

Long-broken lamps are seen in evening sunlight in front of Trenton City Hall Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)— AP

Long-broken lamps are seen in evening sunlight in front of Trenton City Hall Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
/ AP

The pedestal of a missing lamp is seen as the 102-year old Trenton City Hall glows in a setting sun Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)— AP

The pedestal of a missing lamp is seen as the 102-year old Trenton City Hall glows in a setting sun Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
/ AP

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack listens to a question Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Trenton, N.J., after he announced plans for a Trenton African American Pride festival. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)— AP

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack listens to a question Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Trenton, N.J., after he announced plans for a Trenton African American Pride festival. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
/ AP

Long-broken lamps are seen in the evening sunlight on State Street in front of Trenton City Hall Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)— AP

Long-broken lamps are seen in the evening sunlight on State Street in front of Trenton City Hall Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
/ AP

Trenton City Hall is seen after a rain Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)— AP

Trenton City Hall is seen after a rain Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Trenton, N.J. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles than its attributes and rich history. It has high taxes, crime and poverty and low-performing schools. As Tony Mack's administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics are moving to recall him. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
/ AP

TRENTON, N.J. 
As the first new mayor of New Jersey's impoverished capital city in two decades, Tony Mack had his work cut out for him. The once-booming industrial town of Trenton is today known more for its troubles - high taxes, crime, poverty and low-performing schools - than its attributes and rich history.

But as his administration has staggered from one crisis to another in his first year, critics in the gritty city say they've had enough. Acknowledging that a recall effort is a long shot, they say it may be the city's only shot at surviving.

Mack's critics say he has used the city's payroll like a personal piggy bank, hiring unqualified friends for key posts and focusing on minor projects like parks and parades as the city struggles with serious problems.

"The city is dying, and any hope I had for it is dying with this administration," said Councilman George Muschal, a retired city policeman who has lived in Trenton's South Ward most of his life. Muschal initially backed Mack but now says City Hall has been corrupted.

"It won't stop until someone takes him out in handcuffs or he's removed by recall," Muschal said.

Among Mack's first moves as mayor of the city of 85,000 was firing the existing department heads, including a deputy city clerk hired by the City Council but escorted from City Hall by police.

The housecleaning opened the door for Mack's staff picks, who quickly turned it into a revolving door as a dozen people came and went. Some ran for the exit; others were pushed out after pressure intensified over their credentials. And some left to face criminal charges.

He blew through a string of business administrators. The first resigned after a month, saying the mayor didn't believe in "good government." Another resigned just ahead of pleading guilty to embezzlement on another job.

His housing director quit after it was learned he had a theft conviction. His chief of staff was arrested trying to buy heroin. His half-brother, whose authority he elevated at the city water plant, was arrested on charges of stealing. Most recently, his law director resigned after arguing with Mack over complying with open-records laws and potential violations of laws prohibiting city contracts to big campaign donors.

"It would be amusing if it weren't so tragic," said Bill Guhl, Mack's first business administrator, who had more than three decades of municipal and state government experience and volunteered his time to help Mack with the transition.

Mack, who took office in July 2010, acknowledges mistakes but says he is optimistic about getting things done in his second year after a steep learning curve in his first.

"I'm concentrating on being the best mayor I can be," he told The Associated Press.

"I don't look at things as regrets. I look at things as learning experiences," said the 45-year-old Mack, who has a master's degree in public policy from Fairleigh Dickinson University and who spent most of his adult life working for municipal government and as an elected county official.